Local community gathers for official launch of new Ashmont mural
A stunning new mural at Jack Mission Oval was officially launched at a moving ceremony attended by students and staff from Ashmont Public School, Wagga Wagga City Council representatives and family members of Aunty Louise Niki, who features in the artwork.
The launch, held on Tuesday 22 October, included a Welcome to Country, a Smoking Ceremony and a cultural dance performance by students from the Waganha Biladha First Nations Dance Group from Ashmont Public School.
The artwork features designs created by Ashmont Public School students in collaboration with artists Amanda Newman and Natalie L Simmons. Aunty Gail Manderson, who gave the Welcome to Country, worked with the students on the project throughout the design and painting process.
The central feature of the design is a serpent shedding its skin to symbolise rebirth into a safe place, as well as a trail of footprints from the students walking alongside goanna tracks, symbolising their journeys on country.
It also includes the portrait of Aunty Louise Niki, who was the Aboriginal Education Officer at Ashmont Public
School for more than 20 years. The decision to include the portrait was a result of consultation with the school and family of Aunty Louise Niki.
Her sister Ruth Davys spoke at the ceremony, accompanied by one of Aunty Louise’s sons, Carl Niki.
“Louise loved her job and her role in supporting students and families and this wider community of Ashmont,” Ruth Davys said. “She was always there to help others.
“Louise loved to share who she was, share her knowledge and her culture, but most importantly, she loved being part of the start of a little person's life journey and watched them grow in their own cultural identity.
“Louise was a very special person who loved and honoured her family and community, and as you can see, she's left a lasting legacy in so many people who will remember her forever.”
In her speech, Assistant Principal at Ashmont Public School Susan Brasier said Aunty Louise had left behind many fond memories of her dedication to culture and students, staff, and community over her time at the school.
“She passed away in 2019 but her legacy continues, and in recognition of
Doing some DIY?
her dedication to the school and the local community, her name was put forward to be honoured in the mural,” Ms Brasier said.
“Aunty Louise's portrait watches over the school against a backdrop of the Emu constellation, symbolising the guidance of past Elders.”
Other features of the mural include: the Murrumbidgee River, the stories of Gobbagombalin and Pomingalarna, and the colour palette of the Aboriginal flag.
The project was part of Wagga Wagga City Council’s Public Art Plan –Neighbourhood Engagement Project.
Council Cultural Officer Lauren Reynolds said the Neighbourhood Engagement program in Council’s Public Art Plan is about improving local neighbourhoods in Mount Austin, Ashmont, Tolland and Kooringal.
“We have already completed an earlier project in Mount Austin in 2023 and now it’s Ashmont’s turn,” Ms Reynolds said.
“By engaging directly with the Ashmont Public School students and community we foster a sense of ownership and pride in the artwork, as well as giving this school community a chance to contribute to its creation.”
The next project will be a public artwork in Tolland.
Building and construction waste should be taken to Gregadoo Waste Management Centre rather than being placed in your kerbside bins.
Wagga Wagga decides on designs for new playgrounds
The community’s votes are in on the design options for new playgrounds in three suburban neighbourhoods: Ken Shultz Park, Ray Beddoe Park, and Lloyd Park.
Council put three concept designs for each playground to the community through our online engagement platform, Have Your Say Wagga Wagga, between Thursday 12 September and Friday 27 September 2024.
The results have now been collated, with clear community favourites chosen for all three playgrounds.
Council’s Works and Playground Officer John Conlan thanked residents for making the effort to cast their votes online through Have Your Say Wagga Wagga.
“Across the three playgrounds, we received more than 530 submissions online, with the majority of submissions from residents who live near the playgrounds,” Mr Conlan said.
“We are overwhelmed and happy to see so many people submit their vote.
“The community’s input is integral to the playground improvement process, and we appreciate that they took the time to get involved and give us their input on what they want to see installed at their neighbourhood park.”
For all three parks, it was the first design option which garnered the majority of the votes.
The playgrounds will combine traditional elements with modern features.
“There will also be bespoke elements, such as a large stainless steel tube slide at the Ray Beddoe Park, which is being relocated closer to the Wagga Wagga Country Club to take advantage of more open space for the larger playground.”
The new playground designs not only focus on general appeal, making them more attractive to each neighbourhood, but will also improve accessibility, with a focus on equipment at ground level.
The total budget for the three playground replacements is $240,000.
Council aims to commence construction of the winning design options at the end of the year or by early 2025, depending on availability of the equipment from suppliers.
CHANGES IN STORE: The community has spoken, picking its favourite designs for three playground revamps in our suburbs, including Ray Beddoe Park in Lake Albert.
MOVING CERMONY: Waganha Biladha First Nations Dance Group from Ashmont Public School performed a traditional dance during the official opening of a new mural at Jack Mission Oval, featuring an image of former Aboriginal Education Officer at the school, Aunty Louise Niki.
Changes to Council’s
Duty Planner and Building Surveying Services
Council is changing the availability of its Duty Planner and Building Surveying Service to allow staff to focus on prioritising and assessing applications that have already been lodged with Council.
From Monday 21 October 2024, Council Planners and Building Surveyors will only be available between 8.30am until 1pm each weekday for phone enquiries or drop-ins at the Customer Service desk at the Civic Centre.
This change comes from a review that aims to improve timeframes and provide sustainable planning and development services in the most efficient manner.
Council’s Project Director Regulatory Planning and Reform Rebecca Fox says the new hours were determined after analysis of the queries currently being received and the evaluation of the trial reduction in planning duty services earlier this year.
“Temporarily reducing the service to four days a week over a six-week period in June and July allowed our officers to focus on Development Applications that were already with Council for feedback or determination,” Ms Fox said.
“Customers were supportive of this trial and our officers were able to reduce the backlog of Development Applications significantly.”
Council assesses applications in line with the Minister for Planning’s Environmental Planning and Assessment (Statement of Expectations) Order effective 1 July 2024.
Community
“We're continually working on improving how we deliver our services to the community and developers.
“We like to work with the community to make sure the service is as efficient and seamless as possible and, ultimately, we are aiming to reduce timeframes for assessment and decisions made by Council.”
The Duty Planner service enables residents, builders and developers to ask questions about development applications they’ve submitted or are considering submitting, from relatively simple matters such as fence heights to complex developments and planning requirements.
Council is committed to providing this service to the community, and to working with all applicants to improve the quality of information received in applications
TWICE AS MUCH FUN: Local resident Alison Tokley and Council’s Environmental Education Officer Christina Reid talk about teaming up to catch up, and to sell everything from old books, sprung shoes and ancient keyboards.
Get a group together for the Wagga Wagga Garage Sale Trail
The Garage Sale Trail, which sees garage sales held on the same weekends all over the country, is coming to Wagga Wagga on the first two weekends of November.
Community members all over the local area have signed up their garage sale since registrations opened in September.
Now Council is encouraging local
groups to register a ‘group sale’ as a fun, social activity that saves items from landfill.
Council’s Environmental Education Officer Christina Reid says hosting or joining a group garage sale is a great opportunity to promote or fundraise for your local club, group or business.
“Gather your friends or neighbours,
and reduce timeframes for assessments.
“We are still encouraging applicants and potential applicants to contact the service if they have a planning and development related query, but please do it before 1pm each weekday,” Ms Fox said.
“We are focussed on the large number of applications currently in the planning system and are seeking to collaborate with applicants to improve timeframes as the data indicates that we can assess good quality information more quickly.
“Taking queries only between 8.30am and 1pm each weekday will also allow duty officers to finalise and respond to more complex queries each afternoon.”
You can visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/ planning to learn more about building and development in Wagga Wagga.
host a group sale, and enjoy a fun, social day while boosting the circular economy,” Ms Reid said.
“It’s completely free to take part in the Garage Sale Trail and you can choose how many days you want to participate.
“Not only is this a great way to save items from ending up in landfill, your unwanted items might be exactly what someone else is looking for.”
Council’s Supervisor Solid Waste Tammie Cook says the team at Gregadoo Waste Management Centre will accept unsold items leftover after your garage sale.
“Our Tip Shop is well loved by the community, and we have regular visitors stop by every week to see what new items have arrived,” Ms Cook said.
“We save items that people have thrown away and give them a new life, similar to how the Garage Sale Trail encourages people to buy second-hand and save items from going into landfill.”
Saleable items left over from the sales can be brought to the Tip Shop in the hope of finding a new home. Any other unsalvageable items will be put in landfill.
To read more and register your sale, head to garagesaletrail.com.au/ WaggaWagga
Be sure to select 'community group,' 'council,' 'school,' or 'street sale' when registering.
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NEW HOURS: Project Director Regulatory Planning & Reform Rebecca Fox announces changes to the availability of Council’s Duty Planner and Building Surveying Service at the Civic Centre.
